Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	Serious Question
Date:	3/24/2020 12:53:53 PM

What is the concensus of this forum on which tug Trump should listen to.  Should he follow the recommendation of the medical community and opt for a more complete lock down to fight the virus (err on the side of caution) or some economic advisers who want to ease restrictions in most areas (don't let the cure be worse than the disease)?  If the latter are all of you going to be comfortable going to a movie, the mall, flying on a plane, eating in a fast food restaurant, attending a little league baseball game, going to church or even to your own doctor's office knowing there may very well be Covid 19 positive neighbors at the same place?  Is an economy that contracts only 15% rather than 25% worth it because it means the unemployment rate goes to long term  9 or 10% rather than a short term 20% even if it means more people die and our healthcare infrastructure is overwhelmed?  Stark choices that we will all face in the near future.

Name:	Carlson -	Reply
Subject:	Serious Question
Date:	3/24/2020 1:22:10 PM

A very good question.  Barring some unforeseen circumstances I believe the general consensus at day 15 will be to return to normal.  Citizens will make their individual decision to work, play, etc based on their life circumstances.  In Alabama I will be ready to return to social activities, (restaurants, church services) knowing how to protect myself.

i think people now know that if they get sick what to ask for from their doctors.  Birmingham Internal Medicine doctors will not prescribe the malaria drug unless you are symptomatic since there is a potential shortage for hospital patients.  But they will prescribe for all positives.  

my two cents.  

Name:	Rich -	Reply
Subject:	Serious Question
Date:	3/24/2020 1:40:48 PM

I'mm 71 so supposedly ithat puts me in an at risk class, but I do not want to see the future of this country compromised for my or any other seniors sake. We have fought wars to preserve the American way for our children and their offspring this is just another trial we will overcome. Indebting the furure generations so a few persent of seniors that statistically will pass away in their early 80"s anyway seems rediculas to me. If we open up the country in a smart controlled way small buisines can get on with it. The people the bill started out to help have gone through the financial ups and downs before (* years of Obama) and will come out rather quickly no need to set up a liberal piggy bank.

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	I know you both think you are being unselfish
Date:	3/24/2020 2:30:27 PM (updated 3/24/2020 2:33:30 PM)

by being willing to take a chance and ''sacrifice'' yourself in order to help America, but the reality is your thinking is just as likely backward.  You might simple doom more of your loved ones to suffer medically as well as economically.  If you are infected without knowing it and you are ''invited'' to go back into tight groups you may be spreading it to 2 to 4 other people including  those you love as well as innocent strangers.  If the economy is prematurely opened wide the pandemic will spread nationwide rather than being concentrated in a few densely populated areas and killing more Americans while still destroying the economy.  Sad but true.  Do you know 38% of those hospitalized with Covid 19 today in the USA are under 50!

Name:	Carlson -	Reply
Subject:	I know you both think you are being unselfish
Date:	3/24/2020 4:03:01 PM

But you are discounting the treatment that is working and will be perfected.  The New York doc has treated 500 with no deaths, no hospitalizations.  I know it's just proven science but it's working.  

the Birmingham docs are already using it but not until you are positive 

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	If 2 weeks from now
Date:	3/24/2020 4:21:38 PM (updated 3/24/2020 4:24:02 PM)

there is widespread documented evidence that this or some other treatment is proving not even 100% effective but even just minimally effective I may change my mind, but until then I recommend err on the side of caution...today we passed 50,000, up 6500!

Being an optimist is good but being a realist is better.

Name:	Carlson -	Reply
Subject:	If 2 weeks from now
Date:	3/24/2020 5:17:48 PM

I understand your point sorta, but if given the choice just like I do for antibiotics for Streptococcus infection, I will choose this remedy to a ventilator.  I know people who are using this option and know doctors who clearly understand the science that are prescribing off label approved by the fda.  

your logic escapes me but it's your life.  FDA will require a phase 1,2, and 3 before approving it.  Years,  we will have a vaccine way before that.  I think your TDS is showing.  See ya. 

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	No, my ''let's let the facts not our hopes'' guide
Date:	3/24/2020 7:21:47 PM (updated 3/24/2020 7:29:40 PM)

us is showing.  Look, I hope this proves to be a rousing success and if so I will join the nation in thanking Donald Trump for pushing it even if he did so before it was a known treatment which could easily have turned out tragically, but we are not there yet.  !f l was laying in a bed with Covid 19 unable to catch a breath and I had the choice of a ventilator that would keep me stable as my body fought off the virus or a drug that was created for another sickness but had shown some positive results but was still a crap shoot and I had to choose one or the other I would take the ventilator.  If I had the option to take both I would grab it, but when it comes to medecine I am a conservative...go with the recommendation of your doctor which is usually the tested, tried and true. 

BTW:  When I ''say err on the side of caution'' I am not referring to any of the many treatment tests going on but to the possibility the Trump might tell the whole country that... Hey its all over folks , go to chiurch Easter Sunday and thank God for sending me as your leader to beat this virus.  That is how he is talking at the moment even though every responsible medical and scientific comment says if he does so he will be condemning the nation to an even worse crisis.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	You are a Fool then
Date:	3/24/2020 7:32:25 PM

Coming off a ventalattor at your stated advanced years is not always a given.  Even if your body fights off the virus you may never come off the vent.

Name:	Carlson -	Reply
Subject:	I assure u that UAB internal medicine would agree
Date:	3/24/2020 7:46:28 PM

To my request.  School of Medicine at UAB also has the Gileon clinical trial drug so he would recommend one.  The Blue Advantage BCBS Medicare provider I mentioned earlier has and is prescribing the malaria drugs when tests are positive.  

the FDA will be exposed as another member of the swamp as is the CDC distributing bogus tests.  A rude awakening for Americans 

good luck.  

Name:	Tall Cotton -	Reply
Subject:	If 2 weeks from now
Date:	3/25/2020 12:54:02 PM

Is it possible that we are seeing a sharp increase in positive tests simply because now more are being tested and not because the infection rate is growing?

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	If 2 weeks from now
Date:	3/25/2020 2:29:28 PM

Give the man a cigar I think he is onto something.

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	Actually the opposite
Date:	3/25/2020 10:34:53 PM (updated 3/25/2020 10:39:55 PM)

We need to know who has the virus to know how to fight it.  We are finally testing more and therfore are finding more infected people, but because we are testing more and finding out who is infected we at long last are beginning to know who to isolate and/or treat so that they cannot infect 2 to 4 more people as they likely would if not isolated after being tested.  The more people who are tested the more people are placed in isolation the lower the contagious infection rate because more and more infected cases are revealed and isolated.  THAT is why the medical community has been and still is calling for more testing.  Most of the people being tested are having symptoms but fortunately a large majority have the seasonal flu, bhronchitis or a common cold rather than Covid-19.  Isolating as many infected persons as possible and keeping a distance from evrybody you do not know for sure is not infected is how we eventually beat this thing.  That is why the thought of ''packed churches'' on Easter Sunday is madness!

Name:	Tall Cotton -	Reply
Subject:	Actually the opposite
Date:	3/26/2020 9:08:48 AM

So testing more people and finding more positives is not why the numbers are going up? Let me try to figure this out. Yesterday John and Sally were not aware they were infected so they were not listed. They then get tested and test positive and go on the list, but that didn't make the numbers go up by 2?

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	Actually the opposite
Date:	3/26/2020 9:36:57 AM

Great! we can just flatten the curve by no longer testing people!!! /sarcasm

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	Happy to try again
Date:	3/26/2020 3:49:23 PM (updated 3/26/2020 4:05:22 PM)

 Yes, if John and Sally test positive the numbers go up by 2 but John and Sally would then be isolated whether they liked it or not and no longer potentially spreading the infection.  If John and Sally were not tested they would not change the numbers but they would still be infected and still walking aroung potentially spreading the virus.  John and Sally, by being tested add to the numbers but by being isolated they make the chance that the number will go up further just because of them no longer a possible.  By being tested and isolated John and Sally are helping ''flatten the curve''. 

Be assured there are a lot more infected Americans than the 75,000 cases we currently know about.  That is why we need to up the number of tests.  I don't know about AL but the state of GA says they still are unable to find anywhere near the test kits needed from all those millions of test kits the president has been promising ''will be available next week'' on a daily basis for over 3 weeks!

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	Happy to try again
Date:	3/27/2020 10:02:28 AM

Ga has millions of people requiring testing who are showing symptoms?  At this rate please eat your bananas soon because based on your views of your state then you must be in the most contaminated area in the world.

Maybe just start by testing people with symptoms would make the tests go further - Maybe a breakdown in your state/county/city and not so much at the federal level.